Air crews drop retardant on LA-area wildfire

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- As temperatures rise and winds pick up, air crews are again dropping flame retardant on sections of the massive wildfire that has burned for 24 days north of Los Angeles.

U.S. Forest Spokesman Stanley Bercovitz says the decision was made Saturday to take preventative measures against smoldering areas near Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest.

Trucks will spray retardant beginning Sunday morning on the north slope of the peak, which houses telecommunications facilities and an historic observatory.

Triple-digit temperatures and wind gusts of up to 45 miles an hour are predicted early next week.

The fire, which was sparked Aug. 26, is 93 percent contained. It has scorched nearly 281 square miles.

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